Mercato: Kylian Mbappé will leave PSG at the end of the season

Curtain. This time it is sure and certain: Le Figaro is able to confirm that Kylian Mbappé will leave PSG at the end of the season. The 25-year-old French international striker had agreed with Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, he was to announce his decision to the Parisian president when he had made his choice. That's what he did. End of an endless soap opera. After extending it for two years, plus an optional season in 2022, “KM” refused to play this clause last summer, attracting the wrath of its management. Which even earned him a visit to the PSG loft. Clearly, he was sidelined for the Asian tour and the start of the season. Mbappé and “NAK” buried the hatchet before the meeting against Lorient, during the first day of the championship, agreeing in particular on the terms of a potential departure of the former Monegasque. While he was free to negotiate with other clubs since January 1, the strong trend was towards a departure. It is no longer a trend, a rumor, a speculation.

Top scorer in the history of PSG with 243 goals, Mbappé, 25, will have spent seven years under the Parisian colors, he who had been poached from ASM for €180 million in 2017. He notably won six titles of champion of France with Paris-SG and played in a Champions League final, he who once again shook the nets on Wednesday, during the 2-0 victory against Real Sociedad in the round of 16 first leg. During his last media outing, at the beginning of January, he assured that he had not made his choice. It's done. Which doesn't just make the ranks of Arctos unhappy. According to sources close to the matter, American shareholders took a dim view of the club putting so much resources into a single player. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, however, did not spare his efforts: “I don’t want to hide things. I want Kylian to stay. For me, the best player in the world is Kylian. For me, the best club for Kylian is Paris,” said the Qatari president of PSG last January. The player has a different opinion.

Being at the end of his contract, Mbappé should therefore leave PSG without transfer compensation. Various sources, including Le Figaro, reported an agreement which implied that the player would give up a certain number of loyalty bonuses, around €100 million, if he left the free club. This will be the case... unless PSG comes to an agreement with the Bondynois' future employer regarding compensation. However, this is not the most likely option to date... Note that PSG and Kylian Mbappé will not communicate until later. We do not yet know the destination of the world champion, even if Real Madrid is on everyone's mind. Mbappé has always appreciated the Madrid club and he wanted to go there in 2021, one year from the end of his previous deal.

In the meantime, PSG says it is “protected” financially and will continue to reshape its workforce around young players, although planning to be ambitious next summer. “We don’t need stars. Today, the star is Paris Saint-Germain,” said Nasser Al-Khelaïfi at the start of the year. The club wants more than ever to turn the page on the “galactics”, with boys like Warren Zaire-Emery (17 years old) and others (Barcola, Simons...) as symbols of the new generation. Moreover, the capital club plans to strengthen itself significantly next summer, knowing that the departure of Mbappé will significantly reduce the payroll. “KM” cost around €200 million gross per year since its last renewal. After Neymar, Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and Marco Verratti, who left last summer, and Keylor Navas in 2024, the club will clearly gain in terms of financial flexibility. Time will tell if he will also win on the ground.

SEE ALSO – “Fortunately, we gained confidence”: Luis Enrique looks back on PSG’s victory against Real Sociedad (2-0)